The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-12
The ddlest.

| Wausau. - Seven pei
sons were taken into the Universalist
church in this place, Sunday, Feb. 81
Among them was brother who has beer
an elder in the Methodist church many
years. There will be more additions tc
the church soon.
TOmah.-The cause is reviving in this
place. Since Br. Drumming was there
last summer, they have had quite num-
Der of additions to their parish. They
have arranged for place of worship, and
have held several festivals, and all have
been well patronized, and they hope one
of these days to have regular services.
IOWA.-Cedar Rapids. Elsewhere we
notice the case of Rev. Mr.. Backus, a
Methodist minister of Viola, Iowa, who
has recently experienced change of
faith, and will now prepare himself for
the Universalist ministry: On recent
Sunday evening Mr.. Backus and wife
were received into membership with our
Cedar Rapids church. In welcoming the
brother, Rev. Mr.. Pratt said in substance:
"MY BROTHER: I have no need to adj
minister the sacred ordinance OF baptism
for that you have already received, and
so L extend the right hand of fellowship
of our church. 1 know the mental strug-
gle you have passed through. You have
had days of darkness and nights Of I'M
rest. Conscience has said, you ought, but
the wishes of loved ones at home have held
you back and you have hesitated to take
decided stand for what you believed to be
the truth. Your experience has been sim liar
to my own. have felt in my own life the
pain incident to such a struggle as you have
undergone, and 1 have experienced also the
joy that comes when the decision has been
made that come what will we will be honest
with the truth.
81 would not have you forget the old church
in which you were reared. 1t is great and
a grand church, church whose progress has
been that of civilization in this Western
world, so that tonight in almost every town
and city. from the rock bound coast of the
Atlantic to the golden gate of San Francisco,
up into the starlit skies of God Methodist
church spire points.
81 would have you cherish the most tender
memories of the church of your childhood.
feel that in welcoming you to Universalist
church and the work of Universalist minis
ter that welcome you to a broader platform,
and one upon which without fear you can
give free expression to the hope that is in you.
81 welcome you not only to its joys but to
its trials. You will find hills of difficulty to
climb; you will be forced to contend for the
truth, in the face of deep-seated prejudices;
the storm of bigotry will beat upon you. But
these things do not discourage true disciple;
they make him strong to do the work of the
Lord"
After administering the rite of baptism
to Mrs. Backus, the pastor said:
"MY SISTER, welcome you also to
our church, and as you stand before the
holy altar by the side OF your husband, I
recall those beautiful words of Ruth:
Where thou goest will go, where thou
longest, Will lUuBcs LILY p0OPlO SudAi
be my people, thy God my God Long
have you cherished wish to some day
unite with church that believed noble
things Of God. Ihave known the anxiety
with which you have watched the transit
ton of thought in your husbands mind;
and I can imagine the Joy that fills your
soul tonight as he comes with you to the
church of your choice.
"Wherever in the coming years you
may live and labor, want you to feel
that the prayers and best wishes of the
people here in this communion are ever
offered in your behalf, to the end that
you may have abundant success. May
Gods richest blessings eyermore rest
upon you"
Rev. Mr.. Backus will supply for the
present at different points in the State,
and in the early autumn will enter Uni
versalist theological school, probably
Canton, N. Y, to thoroughly fit himself
for the work of Universalist minister.